Avalon Hill Axis & Allies D-Day

I got this game for $30. At that price the next lowest-priced Axis and Allies two-player game (I'm talking Battle of the Bulge and Guadalcanal here) was going for over $100. That just means this has been reprinted, whereas the others have not. As far as fun goes it ranks second behind Bulge to me, but it is also simpler than any other Axis and Allies game while maintaining the series' distinct appeal. The optional third player is pretty much a non-option, because the game functions really well with two. The game only comes with precisely the number of pieces required, so make sure you don't lose any, although the sculpts (aside from the D-day-specific blockhouse) are the same as found in Europe and Pacific. The cards that dictate the order of gameplay are very simple to follow but offer enough layers to warrant repeated playthroughs, and the objectives are clear but there are certainly many ways to go about winning. Overall, a great change of pace for someone who likes the regular Axis and Allies games but can't spare the massive time investment those games require.

I love this game. Ive been an A&A fan for years. I moved on to the miniatures and Im completely addicted to the whole naval warfare side of things. Ive seen this game out for a while and thought id give it a try. Totally awesome. I like the card method of play. Its perfect for a game like this because there are so many other things to focus on other than game turn phases. The cards do this for you. Then when you move in the Fortune and Tactics cards to the mix, the game gets completely insane. Ive ran through the game a few times now and each time its been a completely different result. If you're an A&A player, then this is for you. Im going to get the other expansions now once i scrape up the change.

A very tight timeframe for the battle and limited geography make the game compact and one that can be handled by new A&A players and completed in a reasonable amount of time. No grand strategy to make for the nations involved, all your forces are already set and when you get them is not related to production.The biggest flaw in the rules/play from my observation is the way the Allies use aircraft. In most history books of the D-Day landing and Normandy campaign, both the Allies and Germans view total Allied control of the air as the major turning point. Dues to the rules concerning how AA fire is handled many times the Allies find themselves short or out of aircraft. In reality, they had an unlimited supply of aircraft and crews as far as this battle was concerned. If the Germans have a little luck they can actually win the game, usually because they have wiped out the Allied aircraft.Play is step by step with many dice rolls. Very little creative thought from the players but a real flavor for grinding out a battle. The game becomes boring for the more advanced players but can serve as a good history primer for a beginner and sets the stage for the more complex games offered by A&A series.Due to the manner of play, it can be played solo. I have found the Allies can win in 20-30% of the times if played with competence and just a little luck on dice rolls. Usually the culprit is elimination of Allied air superiority. It is tough to protect the infantry on the beach from armor without a powerful air intervention plan.Not my most favorite A&A game but a nice change of pace and one you can break in a new/younger player with before moving on to more challenging games.

The pieces are nice, the rules are simple, it's easy to teach and fast to play. It's a very limited game however, I like more grand strategy type games and this is a very simple sub-theatre game. I regret buying it.

You would think that Hasbro, with its mountains of cash, would publish a game that had even the rudiments of a historical outcome. Wrong. This embarrassment exhibits not one bit of playtesting polish. It's like they took a sniff at the Breakout: Normandy map and order of battle (remembering that Hasbro owns the rights to BK:N), made some spiffy plastic components, tossed in some cards, and declared the thing ready for consumers. Incredible.

When i first opened the box and looked at the contents, I was disapointed. Regardless, we decided to give it a try. This game is AMAZING. Its VERY well balanced(The allies might have a SLIGHT advantage, but I havnt played enough games to know for sure) and is a great introduction to someone who is new to A&A. Best of all, this game only takes about 2 hours to play.There is no "purchase units" phase nor IPCs earned in this game. Both sides recieve a set number of units and reinforcments every game. Where and how fast reinforments come on, can change every game.The game is somewhat of a dice grind. Lots of rolling, and not as much strategy as "normal" A&A games, but is a great game nonetheless.

Awesome game I got it for my younger nephews ages 10 and 12 who love WW2 stuff . This one is perfect for younger kids just learning to play as the game is card based giving instructions step by step along the way and no need to keep track of unspent ipcs because its dice based reinforcements

This isn't your typical Axis and Allies game. It uses similar component's regarding the board and pieces and the combat system is familiar but diffrent in many ways, but the production phase is skipped altogether and you receive random reinforcements in its place.Historic detail is nice. Most places of importance of the Normandy Campaign are on the map and the military units are named on the reinforcement boards so you get to know what you play with.The problem is with the game itself. There is very little room for tactical play and basically it is a meatgrinder of dice throwing. This maybe fun a couple of times but after that you will not be playing the game that much.I have the feeling that this game was rushed in the 60 year anniversary of D-Day and could have done with a little more playtesting.